Saturday, May 15, 2010

Lavender Bath Salts & a Tuesday Tune

Welcome friends to NatashaInOz.com. Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting me in my little corner of the world Down Under. Today I am sharing a "recipe" for lavender bath salts!

Lavender (Lavandula) is a flowering plant from the mint family.

Images from google images.

Essential Oil of Lavender is one of the safest and most widely used oils in aromatherapy, and as some of my sweet friends might already know, I am a BIG believer in the power of aromatherapy. It is a wonderful oil for people who suffer from depression and it calms a variety of nervous disorders including excitability and nervous tension. Essential oil of lavender has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It was used in hospitals during WWI to disinfect floors and walls! Infusions of lavender heal insect bites and bunches of lavender repel insects. Wikipedia.

Derived from the Latin word ‘lavare’ – to wash, lavender is commonly used in soaps, bath oils and detergents. Studies have shown that the smell of lavender can even lover blood pressure. A drop of lavender oil massaged onto the temples and scalp can treat a headache. Source

There are so many ways you can have the scent of calming lavender in your home. You could burn lavender candles or place lavender sachets in drawers and closets. Essential Oil of Lavender can be used in diffusers, aroma lamps or potpourri or you could put a couple of drops of oil onto a cotton ball to place in your vacuum cleaner bag and sprinkle a couple of drops of Lavender oil onto your pillows.

If you have sore muscles, are having trouble sleeping or if you are stressed, you could try taking a hot lavender bath. This bath salt recipe is easy to make and it smells divine!

You will also need some PINK food colouring and about 5 Tablespoons of dried crushed lavender.

Drop some pink food colouring across the surface of the salt mixture and then do the same with the drops of lavender essential oil. Start with a small amount of food colouring and add more if you want a brighter colour. Mix thoroughly since the food coloring and essential oils tend to want to clump together. Using a large metal or glass bowl and a metal spoon (plastic and wood are too porous, and would absorb the scent of the essential oil), pour in the Epsom salts and sea salts and mix well.

Now add the baking soda and mix well. The baking soda needs to be added last or the mixture would clump together.Finally, mix in the dried lavender blossoms. These are added last so that all of the mixing doesn't beat them up too much. Put the bath salt mixture in an air-tight glass or metal container.

I put some in a glass apothecary jar.

I also recycled an old candle container (washed and cleaned of course!) and filled it with bath salts.

For a standard-sized bathtub, simply add a cup of bath salts to the water and allow to dissolve. Do not use bath salts with dried flowers in a tub with jets, though, as the flowers will clog them!

Please note: Lavender oil should be used with caution since it can also be a allergen and pregnant and lactating women should avoid ingesting lavender.

Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons. You will find it is to the soul what a

water bath is to the body.Oliver Wendell Holmes.

While you are having a relaxing lavender salt bath why not light some candles and listen to some music! Maybe some relaxing jazz? How about the late and oh so great Lena Horne?

The late Lena Mary Calhoun Horne (June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010) was an American singer, actress and dancer.

She achieved many firsts: one of the first black singers to perform at the famed Copacabana nightclub; the first black performer to sign a long-term contract with a major movie studio, (MGM) and one of the first black performers to achieve international stardom. Many people might remember her as Glinda the Good in the 1978 movie "The Wiz." Others might recall her ad for the Gap in 2007.

Lena Horne was honored by a resolution passed bu the U.S. Senate on May 14. The resolution, introduced by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and passed unanimously by the entire Senate, recognized Horne's lifelong efforts as an actress, singer and civil rights activist.

Senator Gillibrand said, "Lena Horne's legendary voice and her lifelong dedication to fighting inequality will continue to inspire future generations of Americans. While we join together to mourn the loss of an American treasure and icon, we also celebrate Lena Horne's incredible life and legacy." Source

My Sunday Song this week is the song that I think most people would remember her for.

I hope you enjoy Stormy Weather.

Do you share songs on your blog? If you do I would love it if you could share your songs each Tuesday. You can link up to any post, new or old.

We must have been thinking great thoughts on lavender today, isn't that funny !I love your post, and must try the lavender recipe for relaxation, maybe after I get through working this weekend.Have a great weekend !Jo

Natasha, your post is simply brimming with wonderful thoughts and information. The recipe for bath salts is appreciated and it looks wonderful! I love jazz! Thanks for sharing and wishing you a wonderful weekend. Do stop by and have a peek at my pinks and I hope to see you Tuesday for Tea Time.

wow! what a fabulous post. I had no idea Lavender was part of the mint family! And I am excited to try the recipe for bath salts, I love anything with lavender in it as it really does relax the spirit and body.Thanks for stopping by my blog & for the lovely comment.CailinMariehttp://cailinyates.blogspot.com

Natasha,I feel relaxed by just reading your post! The bath salts sound so inviting right now. We are close to Young Living Farms and each summer we run a 5K that the farm sponsors; "Running Through the Lavender" and that's exactly what we do. We run through the beutiful lavender fields just as the sun is cresting the mountain.

I have seen that lavander is being used in cuisine and have been considering searcjing for a good recipe ... you're miles ahead of me!And no, I have never posted a song in my blog, but enjoy fellos bloggers who do (like Carpediendo)

I ♥♥♥ lavender...when I was a small child I always associated the smell of lavender with old ladies...well guess what...I have arrived!My lavender is just now starting to bud out, can't wait until it is in full bloom.

I love the lavender and pink bath salts... I am defiantly going to have to make that as some point in time. And the Lena Horne... she was a grand lady, my favorite memory of her is on the Muppet Show, so many years ago.

Love your pictures and your post! My lavendar plant is budding out right now and you have inspired me to actually do something with it this year. I signed up to follow your blog, I can't believe I hadn't already done so. I'll be back when I can stay longer.

Hi Natasha, that shade of pink is awesome, it sparkles into my living room! Must have it!! Your lavender mosaic is so pretty. Well you're turning in at the moment, sweet dreams for now and many hugs for a great new week, my friend. xxoo

THank you so much for visiting my blog :) I love the title of yours and the pics you post are amazing! And the lavendar bath salts would be great for hostess gifts and teachers too, thank you for sharing :)Cathy

What a great idea. Thanks so much for sahring ..as well as the information on lavender. I have three bags full of buds and needed ideas - thanks for the inspiration! Thanks so much for joining The Sunday Showcase Party. I greatly appreciate it! ~ Stephanie Lynn

I'm want to mix up this bath salt recipe right now! The color is beautiful. Great information here, I'll remember it the next time I get a crazy migraine. Thanks for the videos of Lena Horne, she was wonderful singer and a beauty.Mimi

Hi Natasha, I love aromatherapy too and especially lavender. my mama loved it. After she passed I planted lavender bushes by her grave and they are blooming at the moment. I went to visit my mama today and the lavender smells and looks so beautiful.Hugs and kisses, joey

"There is magic in long-distance friendships. They let you relate to other human beings in a way that goes beyond being physically together and is often more profound." ~Diana CortesThank you for visiting, dear friend.

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My main blog, www.natashainoz.com is about my life and home in Australia. I share decorating ideas, recipes, styling tips and all things beautiful. I also have an education blog, Educator in Oz, where I share resources, ideas and observations. Please visit soon!

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